Draft-arm.



J. R STUART.

DRAFT ARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY6. 1915.

1 1 5 1,? 3%. Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

TED %TAE% PENT OFFICE.

JOHN R. STUART, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN STEEL FOUNDRIES, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,-A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRAFT-ARM.

Application filed May 6, 1915.

Arms, of which the following is aspecifica-' tion.

My invention relates to railroad cars and has particular reference to a novel reinforcing means for the wooden sills of such cars.

It has been found desirable in the use of railroad cars having wooden underframes to employ. a metallic draft-gear-supporting and sill-reinforcing element which shall extend alongside the center sill over the bolster and a substantial distance to the rear of the bolster. In some instances it has been found desirable to install a metallic sub-sill beneath the wooden center sill, such sub-sill extending from one draft arm to the other. In such cases itisdesirable to provide for the direct transmission of shocks from the draft gear to the metallic subsill, this result being secured by making the draft arm continuous through the body bolster. However, to install such a device it has heretofore been necessary to dismantle the bolster. This is undesirable as requiring additional labor and expense, and the present invention is designed to obviate this necessity. The portion of the reinforcing member which arches over the bolster is interrupted above the bolster, and, after the casting is in place, the space above the bolster is bridged by a filler which interlocks with the marginal edges of the opening and provides a rigid structure of a strength substantially equal to that of a casting which has no cut-out portion.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of a car underframe, the center sills being broken away above the bolster, Fig. 2 is an elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1. and Fig. 3 is an elevation of a slightly modified form of the construction.

In the drawings the center sills are indicated at 10 and are, in the present instance, of wooden construction. The body bolster is composed of upper and lower plates 11 and 12. The end sill. is indicated at 13.

The device of my construction consists in a Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Seria1 No. 26,227.

casting extending from a point forward of the end sill to a point considerably in the rear of the body bolster and includes a draft gear supporting portion 14, a sill strengtln ening portion 15, and a sub-sill attaching portion 16. It will be noted that the member is continuous and substantially straight from the draft gear supporting portion to the sub-sill attaching portion, a section 17 of metal extending between the upper and lower plates of the body bolster. It will be noted that the sill strengthening portion is interrupted at a point above the body bolster, and to complete the structure and to secure the requisite strength I provide a filler 18, which bridges the space in the portion 15. This member 18, as indicated in Fig. 1, is provided with a groove 19, which accommodates a tongue or lateral flange 20 at the marginal edge of the cut-out portion. Extensions 21 are provided on the filler and bolts 22' are passed throughthe part 21, the part 15 and the sills 10. It will be noted that the tongue and groove construction is placed diagonally and also that the contact ing faces of the tongues and grooves are wedge-shaped. By this means I am enabled to secure a rigid and firm engagement.

In the construction shown in Fig. 8, the tongue on the member 23 and the groove on the filler 24 are offset, as at 25, thus forming a shoulder, to the end that the filler may be positively and properly located without the necessity for fitting or adjusting at the time of application. In each of the constructions the filler is provided with a bracket or reinforcing member 26 lying above the bolster. The sub-sills 16, shown in Fig. 1, may be of any desired rolled commercial shape and may extend from end to end of the car.

To install the device, the filler is removed, the casting is inserted flatwise between the upper and lower members 11, 12 respectively of the bolster; that is, in a position 90 removed from that shown in the drawings. After the lugs or lips which are formed on the top and bottom of the casting are located in proper relation to the members of the bolster the casting is turned into an upright position and the filler applied. This obviates the necessity for dismantling the bolster in applying or removing the draft arm.

It will be noted that the device reinforces the wooden center sill above the bolster,

transmits shocks directly from end to end of the car Without applying the full force of 'such shocks to the center sills, and in general, includes many, if not all of the advantages secured by the use of a construction such as shown in the reissue patent to Crawford No. 13,894, under Which my assignee is a licensee.

I claim:

1. In a draft arm, the combination of a draft gear supporting portion, a sill strengthening portion, and a portion to which a sub-sill may be attached, said last named portion extending in a substantially straight line from said gear supporting portion and between the upper and lower plates of the bolster, the sill strengthening portion being interrupted above the bolster, and a filler bridging the said space and forming a rigid arch over the bolster, substantially as described.

2. In a draft arm, the combination of a portion extending through the body bolster and a portion arching over the same, said arched portion being interrupted above the bolster, and a filler bridging the open space and forming a rigid structure, substantially as described.

3. In a draft arm, the combination of a portion extending through the body bolster Copies of this patent may be obtained for and a portion arching over the same, said arched portion being interrupted above the bolster, and a filler bridging the open space and interlocking With said arched portion to form a rigid structure, substantially as described.

4. In a draft arm, the combination of a portion extending through the body bolster and a portion arching over the same, said arched portion being interrupted above the bolster, and a filler bridging the open space and forming a rigid structure, said filler and arched portion having a tongue and groove interlocking engagement, substantially as described.

5. In a draft arm, the combination of a portion extending through the body bolster and a portion arching over the same,said arched portion being interrupted above the bolster, and a filler bridging the open space and forming a rigid structure, said filler and arched portion having diagonally disposed interlocking recesses and shoulders, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, N. Y., this 24: day of April, 1915.

JOHN R. STUART. Witnesses:

T. H. HOPKIRK, J. S. GODDARD.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

